| Summary: | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a powerful medical imaging technique that provides detailed visualization of internal structures in vivo, making it an indispensable tool in diagnosing and monitoring brain-related diseases and pathologies. In this thesis, we focus on the hippocampus, a critical brain region for memory and learning, and investigate its susceptibility, volume, and vascularization using high-resolution MRI at 7T.
Firstly, we estimate the reproducibility of hippocampal subfield susceptibility and volume in healthy participants to determine the precision required for longitudinal studies aimed at tracking changes in the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease.
Secondly, we compare the susceptibility and volume of hippocampal subfields between healthy controls and Alzheimer's disease patients to investigate whether they can be used as biomarkers for early detection of AD. We also examine the relationship between hippocampal subfield measurements, the abnormal protein Amyloidβ1-42 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and cognitive performance measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Thirdly, we investigate the non-invasive visualization of hippocampal vasculature to better understand its pattern, which is critical for surgical planning. We aim to map the vascularity of the hippocampus in vivo without contrast agents to gain insight into the relationship between vascular and degenerative pathology of the hippocampus.
Our findings have implications for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and provide insights into the structure and function of the hippocampus.
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